Day Sail out to Hawk's Channel and the Outter Reef

Boot Key Harbor Bridge the primary route in and out of Boot Key Harbor

Burdines, great place for Fuel, Beer, or an evening meal at the Restaurant upstairs with super Sunset's

The Channel entrance is narrow and very shallow on both sides so  sharing with other vessels  keeps you on your toes.

A new color of Blue to sail in

That is Boot Key on the Left, we are sailing near Hawk's Channel on the way to the Outter Reef

Light winds but we ar making a comfortable 4-5 knots

This is "49" Green marking the edge of Hawk's channel and a  bit of a reef, do not get to close!

I'm in the Zone!

Sombrero Beach

Just can make out Gilligan's Island in the foreground AKA Little Sister  Rock

A few other sailors had the same Idea today

On the way back in the Channel we observed these commercial fisherman unloading some really large fish. 

Day Sail out to Hawk's channel and the Outter Reef

A few weeks ago I was getting a bit antsy and wanted to get the boat out of Boot Key Harbor and take advantage of the nice weather we were having for a day sail down Hawk's Channel and out to see the Outter Reef. I knew it was just past the three mile line out to the reef here and you could easily see all the sport fishing vessels lined up along the reef from all of the Atlantic side beaches. Also I wanted the Admiral to see that sailing down Hawk's Channel could be a very pleasant experience. As always it took a few days to prepare Body Mind and Soul and stow everything for the Day Adventure. There was a very pleasent South East wind 8-15 mph and we had a easy time departing the Mooring Ball and exiting through the narrow channel into Boot Key Harbor. The water was a New Blue to Wand'rin Stars crew. She had seen it before though with previous owners since the 1st Owner lived in Connecticut and the second owner sailed her to his home waters in Galveston Bay. Must have been a great trip.
I was in no particular hurry and was much more interested in sight seeing than racing around the Atlantic so I put out about 75% of the Main and about 80% of the Genoa. It was definitely a full sail day but we did have a few things to watch out for like rows and rows of crab traps and of course patch coral. We took a Beam to Broad reach out to the reef and I knew I would be on a close haul back but I was good with that. Besides the crab traps were easy to navigate on the way out to the reef. A very relaxing sail out. I was amazed at all the relatively small fishing boats out near at the reef, it was a nice day though and the swells 1-2'  or less.
We tacked to head back as I looked forward to a bit more lively sail close hauled sail. Well sailing through lines of crab traps close hauled is a different challenge. I need more practice at it as I continued to have to fall off to avoid the next one ahead as the leeway would surely take you right over it. Heading up was not an option,. I finally just went to a close reach and then had to fall off to a Beam reach to avoid the Coral Patch at Marker "49" We tacked after clearing the marker and reef but again it was no fun avoiding the crab traps close hauled and we continued to sail away from the channel entrance to Boot Key Harbor. I wanted to return to that relaxed state of mind that the Florida Keys seem to ingrain in you if you are here long enough. So we started the entrance and motored sailed the rest of the way in....much better.
This would be the first time the Admiral would be at the helm to pick up a Mooring Ball but no fear I had learned how to use wireless Remote VHF mic. I gave a quick 101 on how to use the VHF radio so I could communicate with her from the bow without having to use a loud voice. The demonstartion lesson worked great but as soon as we got near the ball the batteries on the remote mic gave up. No fear we just transitioned to our trusty hand signals and the Admiral nailed the mooring Ball on the first pass as if she had done it 100's of times. I was a proud Captain!

The Miami Boat Show

I avoided stepping on the really big boats (except for 2) and concentrated my time on  vessels around 40', This Hylas 45 was sweet.

This Seaward 46 RK was the most intriguing with lots of out of the box thinking, I did not want to  leave this boat, has a motorized Keel  that raises and lowers, that is the top of it in front of the mast. 

I had to step on this Gunboat 60, absolutly AWESOME

Now my Favorite Catamaran, the Leopard 39'

And right up front being showcased by Catalina was our very first  boat  a Catalina 250  exact;y like this one!

On the Mast are some new type of Wind Generators being Beta Tested here at the Miami Boat Show. After talking to the owner about his experience of allowing his boat as a guinea pig to be the first to have the new technology installed on his boat for free really schooled me. 

Almost Overwhelming at the Strictly Sail, so much to see.

Found the Mountain top where Jimmy Cornell was giving a FREE workshop on World Cruising Routes. 

You Know Eric Stone would be there playing!

The Yellow Water taxi that takes you from the Strictly sail to  the Power Boat Show. 

The First day got rainy in the afternoon so we water taxied over to the Power side thinking it would have stuff indoors, on the way over we counted 6 cruise ships docked, No wonder there were no rooms in Miami!

Downtown Miami

This Banyon Tree at the Strictly Sail was the biggest we have seen so far.

We took a bus over to the Miami Beach Convention Center where the entire world of boating lived. 

The Draw bridge stopped the traffic and all of a sudden this film crew jumped out in front of our bus and  started filming this very Miami couple....funny!

I think that couple being filmed must have owned a boat like this.

Just add GAS

I loved the Luxury Dingy's

My two favorite freebies, Rocna anchor/beer opener and my "GO" Yanmar bag.

Relaxing in the fighting Chair

The 2013 Miami Boat Show
http://www.miamiboatshow.com/

The Miami boat show has been in the back of my mind for some time. I knew we should not miss this opportunity but I really did not know exactly what to expect. We have been to several boat shows in Texas but nothing on this scale. Here is part of the Promo on the website:

"See what’s new at the Greatest Boat Show in the World! Florida's largest annual event spans three locations—the Miami Beach Convention Center, the New Yacht & Power Boat Show at Sea Isle Marina and Strictly Sail® at Miamarina at Bayside—and features more than 3,000 boats and 2,000 exhibitors from all over the globe. There’s no better place to preview the new boating season!"

After reading that you still do not know what that means unless you have been there before. Every single thing about boating (and all that is even slightly related) I have ever read about, talked to or discussed with others about, considered, or dreamed about, was there. We had the opportunity if we wanted to to walk up to a booth and talk to the MAN for every single component on our vessel or any others for that matter. You had direct contact with the people who had the correct answer for whatever. The "Man" was right in front of you and you did not have to weed through internet knowledge to get at the solution. Then there were lots of free workshops you just walked into, I chose two to attend and the Admiral chose two others (divide and conquer). My favorite was with Jimmy Cornell presenting World Cruising Routes. The Admiral enjoyed the" Cruising with Couples" seminar. She said it confirmed many things we were doing as well as several new ideas we could do to bed more efficient. Also since this was a popular one for the Admirals there was a git a camaraderie in the group that validated a lot of the things each has experienced along the way.

The first day we went directly to the Strictly Sail. We spent the entire morning there and after the rain started in the afternoon we thought we might escape the rain a bit and take the free Water Taxi over to the Power Boat show at Sea Isle Marina. Well there was fewer places here to hide from the rain but I did step on a Cutwater Trawler that I have heard a lot about from people who were choosing their Loop Boat. We then hoped aboard the shuttle bus to the Miami Beach Convention Center where the mother of all things boating lived. Almost overwhelmed, which way to go first? If I had only known I would have spent a few days planning out exactly our route to navigate the show. But then again I saw tons of stuff just wondering about that I would have missed if I did have a plan. by 1800 hrs we were ready to give it up and headed for Ft. Lauderdale where we were able to book a room. It was clear why Miami had  no rooms anywhere with the Largest Boat Show in the World +  6 cruise ships docked, Holy Cow, lots of humans. 
Saturday we actually had a plan of action, Back to the Strictly Sail to attend some seminars, step on a few boats and then back to the Convention center for the afternoon. The plan helped me deal with the enormity much better and since we had a time schedule we could just stay focused and not get distracted by all the Eye Candy. The Admiral was not interested on getting on a lot of vessels but I had a few I wanted to see. Again I avoided all the big ones except I had to get on a 60' Oyster and a 60' Gunboat Catamaran the only chance I might have in my lifetime. The Seaward 46 RK was a very intriguing vessel, a lot of out of the box thinking went into this very cool sailboat. I wished I had more time to just look at more closely. I  Checked out the Leopard 39 catamaran and if I was the Cat type this would be the one. I also had the chance to talk to the owner of a 40' something vessel who had volunteered his boat to be used as a test boat for a new type of wind generators for sailboats. It was pretty cool since he would sailaway with the newest technology aboard his cruising boat just for letting  them use his boat as a demo for the boat show. They were having issues resolving some of the mounting hardware and it was going to delay his cruising for a few months while they re-engineer the mounts and fix the holes they had already drilled in his mount for the first attempt. Sort have to be careful what you agree to be the Guinea Pig for. 
We finished our day at the Garmin booth where the latest navigation tools are again amazing. 
Maybe one day we will get to the Annapolis Boat show that is the Largest Strictly Sail in the world, but not sure when that might happen since we are making a 180 in our cruising plans. Our daughter called and reported that she is 3 months pregnant (her first) and the baby is due in August. Seattle here we come. Yep, we are moving to Seattle for a couple of years to assist her and our Son in Law with this child. Our immediate plans are to return to   Texas before June and secure Wand'rin Star so we can be in Seattle by August. Not enough time to plan a Long Voyage like that through the Panama so she may go back up to Seattle on a Truck!

Curry Hammock

Took our first Kayak tour at Curry Hammock

This Little Blue Heron  couldn't have cared less about all the Kayaks

We learned there were 7 species of sea grass in the shallow waters we were paddling over. 

Approaching the North side of the island it got so shallow you had to barely dip your paddle in.

Our guide stopped several times along the way to provide details  along the kayak trail.

We were told of a special Jelly fish that spends it life upside down  and they inhabit this area on the Northwest side of the island

Can you see the Jelly fish?

The trail narrows through the Mangroves

Very cool to paddle right through mangroves, the Admiral would not have done this  if we had been alone. 

Can't go that way

The trail merges into a large cove on the East side of the Island, trip is over at the end of the tree line, the outlet to the Atlantic. 

This Yellow Crowned Night Herring had his choice of perches. 

I was ready to get off the Kayak, my butt was hurtin but the Admiral wanted to  keep going. 

Nice Beach with few people around

Horseshoe Crab Shell

Three sailboats appeared to be Buddy Boating West down Hawks Channel

These guys were soon getting their sails down 

We thought we were going to see our fist Florida Water Spout, The first two sailboats got their sails down but the one in the back kept on sailing. We just hoped this would not pass over Boot Key Harbor. 

Curry Hammock State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/curryhammock/
"Curry Hammock is made up of a group of islands in the Middle Keys, with public access to swimming, a playground, picnic tables, grills and showers on the ocean side of Little Crawl Key. The hardwood hammocks found on these tropical islands support one of the largest populations of thatch palms in the United States. Mangrove swamps, sea grass beds and wetlands provide vital habitats for tropical wildlife."

We had been wanting to do a Kayak tour as they are offered all through the keys at the various parks. This tour guided by a Park Ranger was a two hour Circumnavigation of Little Crawl Key. As always,  it is always better to have a guide to point out and educate you about the environment around you. By now we are pretty educated about the mangroves but not the various species of sea grasses, and Jellyfish, and other shallow water life forms, all a precious part of the ocean ecosystem. We chose to rent one of their Kayaks rather than carry ours to the park. Pleased that they had the same exact Malibu for two Kayak that we own. There was a part of the tour that takes you through a narrow passage through the Mangroves. It was pretty cool and several times before I had tried to get the Admiral to go into those areas when we were out kayaking on our own but she was not interested. Having the guide eased her mind and she did not have to worry that there might be a Crocodile or snake hanging around.
After the tour she wanted to go out to a sand bar a couple hundred yards off the shore but my butt hurt after two hours so I was ready to stand up. We finished our day at Curry Hammock with a walk around the nice beach and a walking tour of the RV/Camping area. really nice facilities. We talked to a couple of snow Birds who come to Florida every year and stay several months in their RV. the State Parks are preferred by the Snowbirds since the spaces for their RV's are much nicer than the private parks but you can only stay for two weeks. They have to have their reservations in at each State park a couple of years in Advance as they have to move every two weeks to the next one. Hum, their trip is dictated by some imposed park schedule and sailors are ruled by the weather. Nature or Bureaucracy take your pick.